Advice on Two Internship Offers (GSAM & RBC S&T)
Hi everyone! I would greatly appreciate your input on two internship opportunities I have received:
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Goldman Sachs Asset Management - Client Solutions Group Summer 2024 internship
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RBC Sales and Trading Summer 2024 internship
First, I hope to provide some background information about myself and initiate a discussion on these offers. My background and major are non-finance related. During my finance recruiting journey, I sought positions that are market-facing, relationship-focused, and offer a better work-life balance than investment banking. With these criteria in mind, I applied for both sales and trading as well as asset management and wealth management internships.
Since talking with people, I have developed a strong interest in sales and trading. I appreciate the early mornings, the constant sense excitement each day brings, and the fast-paced nature of the field, which resonates with my lifelong experience as an athlete. Consequently, I was thrilled to receive the offer from RBC for the sales and trading internship. However, I also secured an opportunity at Goldman Sachs, and I cannot disregard the prestige associated with the Goldman name. This has led me to question both offers.
Should I prioritize Goldman Sachs solely because of its reputation, even though it isn't initially the industry I envisioned myself working in? Could choosing RBC limit my future career progression? I am also curious about the differences in workplace culture and experiences that people have had at these organizations. I am open to all comments and opinions you may have!
Thank you in advance for your valuable insights.
Congrats!
RBC S&T will be more market-facing than relationship-focused and GSAM Client Solutions Group will be mostly relationship-focused and near zero market-facing (you'd be looking at some high level portfolio/benchmark performances and top x number of drivers / detractors maximum). And to be honest, both are very reputable institutions. It really depends on how you want to build out your career over the longer period of time. S&T exits may depend on what asset class you get assigned to on your return offer but largely divided into trader role at HF/AM or climbing up the ladder in S&T. Client Solutions Group will pave into business developments where your winning investments for the GSAM guys to manage.
Throwing prestige out of the equation here:
Given that, I’d ask yourself what you value more. Do you value one day working at Goldman Sachs? Do you have an extra summer to possibly do an internship there? Then I’d take GS and try to lateral within the GS platform to get there. But I can tell you that this will only happen if you work your ass off and create those contacts because if you don’t, they’d take the RBC Sales and Trading applicant for the next internship you’d be applying to over you from the client services group if you haven’t made a name for yourself so that’s the risk.
I can tell you one thing that RBC’s brand is nothing to be sneered at, and an S&T internship there in a front office capital markets role would gear you very well for your next summer internship thereafter.
If it were me, I’d probably take the RBC internship because I have summered in a similar role as that GSAM role and I didn’t really learn anything, and this was at BB. For you, it would more valuable to get the technical skill sets to shape you for the future.
hey, I have GSAM AC for Client sales group next week. Could you pls provide any insight on what ur interviews where like?
Hey, I’ve got a super day for this role? Do you mind pming me?
Congrats—those are two great offers, and your self-awareness around what energizes you (market-facing, fast-paced, relationship-driven) is already a huge asset.
If S&T genuinely excites you—and it sounds like it does—then the RBC offer aligns more directly with your interests. You’ll get hands-on exposure to live markets, fast decision-making, and the kind of team dynamics that often appeal to athletes. That kind of clarity this early is rare and valuable.
That said, GSAM’s Client Solutions Group is also a strong platform, especially if you’re interested in institutional relationships and portfolio strategy. The Goldman name does carry weight, but brand alone shouldn’t outweigh fit and trajectory. If you perform well at RBC, you’ll have plenty of exit options—within RBC or elsewhere—and you’ll be building relevant skills from day one.
In short: don’t default to prestige if it means stepping away from what actually excites you. Long-term success tends to follow energy and alignment, not just logos.
Good luck with your choice!
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